The next morning, Shen Jing went to find Du Heng.
Returning to the capital was inevitable, so he had to properly arrange the follow-up matters.
Although he outwardly expressed an indifferent attitude towards going back to the capital, he still had some hidden worries in his heart.
Even now, he still felt that the timing of Emperor Zhou's decree for them to return to the capital to receive rewards was a bit off.
"No more white sugar production?"
Upon learning of Shen Jing's arrangements, Du Heng immediately looked at Shen Jing with a strange expression.
Shen Jing strongly suspected that this guy was cursing him in his heart for being a fool who wouldn't earn money even if he had it.
"Not for now."
Shen Jing nodded and explained to Du Heng, "The profit from white sugar is too great. Once we go to the capital, many people will definitely set their sights on white sugar! If someone manages to steal the method for making white sugar, we will suffer more loss than gain!"
This was not some high-end technology to begin with.
Rather than being constantly watched, it was better to directly shut down the white sugar workshops.
Anyway, all those involved in making white sugar were servants of Su Manor, so it was just right to bring them all back to the capital.
"Is that so?"
Du Heng thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "After you return to the capital, will you not come back to Luochuan Prefecture anymore?"
"I don't know yet."
Shen Jing gently shook his head, "However, the capital is not far from Luochuan Prefecture. My parents are buried here, so I will definitely come back to visit when I have time."
Du Heng's eyes darted around, and he suddenly revealed a fawning smile, "How about you talk to my father and let me go to the capital with you?"
"You want to go to the capital?"
Shen Jing was surprised.
"Just to go out and see the world!"
Du Heng chuckled, "I've been in Luochuan Prefecture for so many years, I also want to go to the capital to see the world!"
The capital!
Who wouldn't want to visit the capital in their lifetime and experience its prosperity?
"Have you thought it through? The capital is not a good place."
Shen Jing looked at Du Heng seriously, "It's easy to want to go to the capital! But if you get caught in those whirlpools, it won't be so easy to extract yourself!"
People in this world are truly strange.
Some people can't avoid going to the capital, while others desperately want to go.
It's like a besieged city; those inside want to get out, while those outside want to get in.
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Du Heng said nonchalantly and boldly, "So many people live perfectly fine in the capital; it's not like I'll be eaten, right? Besides, if the sky falls, there'll be someone taller to hold it up first! If anything really happens, you guys take the lead, and I'll slip away at any moment!"
"..."
Shen Jing's face was covered in black lines.
This Sunzi, he truly understood the profound truth of 'a dead fellow Daoist is better than a dead poor Daoist'.
Shen Jing pondered for a moment, then told Du Heng, "We will depart in a few days. You should think it over carefully. Once you've thought it through and decided to go, then ask your father for his opinion! If your father doesn't agree, then come find me!"
"Alright!"
Du Heng readily agreed, his eyes showing a hint of excitement.
... ...
Two days later, Fang Liuqi and Du Ying officially became engaged.
Originally, this matter was supposed to happen a few days later.
However, to accommodate Madam Su and their schedule, Du Yidao and Fang Liuqi's mother discussed it and moved the date forward.
After all, Madam Su could be considered the matchmaker for Fang Liuqi and Du Ying.
They had to at least let Madam Su have a sip of their wedding wine.
Because Fang Liuqi was Shen Jing's person, Du Yidao did not demand that Fang Liuqi become a live-in son-in-law.
The two families would have a normal marriage.
Du Yidao followed Shen Jing's suggestion and actively extended an invitation to the Wu Family, with whom they had been at odds.
Wu Xiong did not put on airs and brought his family to the wedding banquet.
During the banquet, Du Heng excitedly talked to Shen Jing about going to the capital.
"Your father agreed?"
Shen Jing was slightly surprised.
He had privately told Du Yidao about the Su Family's situation in the capital.
He had originally thought that Du Yidao would not agree to Du Heng going to the capital.
"Of course he agreed!"
Du Heng chuckled, "My father even said that a true man should go out and explore!"
Alright!
Since Du Yidao had agreed, Shen Jing had nothing more to say.
After the banquet, Shen Jing called Wu Xiong and Du Yidao together to instruct them on some matters.
Although they were heading to the capital and probably wouldn't return to Luochuan Prefecture for a short while, matters on Luochuan Prefecture's side could not be neglected.
Moreover, they had to radiate influence towards the capital as much as possible.
After giving his instructions, Shen Jing told the two, "You two should first build the intelligence framework as I've described. A month later, I will send someone to contact you."
"Alright!"
Both of them agreed simultaneously.
Shen Jing took their hands and clasped them together, "I know you two had some past grievances, but today you have reconciled, and I hope you will cooperate sincerely in the future and no longer harbor ill feelings."
"Young Master Shen, don't worry. We are all people who have been in the martial world; we aren't that petty."
Du Yidao reached out and lightly punched Wu Xiong's chest, "Right, Old Dog Wu?"
Old Dog Wu, this was Du Yidao's former address for Wu Xiong.
However, calling him by this name now no longer carried the meaning of insult; it was more like teasing.
"Crazy Dog Du, don't you dare pull that trick on me!"
Wu Xiong glared at Du Yidao with bulging eyes, "That batch of tea bricks you owe me, you must return them to me!"
The reason their two families became enemies was because of a batch of tea bricks.
Years ago, when Great Zhou was still in turmoil, Du Yidao and Wu Xiong had a dispute in a gambling house. Later, Du Yidao contacted a group of bandits to intercept a batch of tea bricks from the Wu Family's caravan.
Although the value of that batch of tea bricks was not very high, the two families became enemies from then on.
"I'll return them!"
Du Yidao laughed heartily, "I'll return double, is that alright?"
"That's more like it!"
Wu Xiong gave Du Yidao an annoyed look and also punched Du Yidao in the chest.
Shen Jing smiled at the two of them, then solemnly promised, "Don't worry, working for me will definitely not let you down! Believe me, your two families will both become prestigious noble families of Great Zhou in the future!"
"I believe Young Master Shen!"
Wu Xiong nodded repeatedly, a smile on his face, "There's something I haven't had a chance to tell Young Master Shen yet."
"What is it?"
Shen Jing asked curiously.
Wu Xiong chuckled, boasting, "It seems two of my women are pregnant."
"Ah?"
Shen Jing was surprised, "Didn't I tell you not to touch women for a while?"
"I just couldn't resist, you know?"
Wu Xiong gave an embarrassed smile, but he looked incredibly smug.
"Alright, you're really something!"
Shen Jing gave him a thumbs up.
It was a good thing his two women got pregnant.
If they hadn't, he would have probably thought that the prescription he gave him was wrong!
"I still have to thank Young Master Shen for this."
Wu Xiong's face was full of smiles, feeling as if he had become much younger.
"You old dog, you're really a late bloomer!"
Du Yidao cursed Wu Xiong with a laugh, then said to Shen Jing, "Du Heng is a bit reckless in his actions. After he arrives in the capital, I ask Young Master Shen to look after him. Du Yidao thanks you in advance!"
Shen Jing stopped Du Yidao, who was about to bow, and said seriously, "Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, I won't let anything happen to him!"
